Yes, canned tuna is generally healthy as an affordable source of protein, omega-3s, vitamins, and minerals, but choose light (skipjack) for lower mercury, watch sodium, and moderate intake for pregnant women or children due to mercury concerns with larger tuna types.
The healthiest canned tuna is typically chunk light skipjack packed in water, due to lower mercury levels and fewer calories than albacore, but for maximum omega-3s, opt for pole-and-line caught albacore (in moderation due to mercury). Look for "no salt added" for sodium control, sustainable sourcing (pole-and-line/FAD-free), and brands that test for mercury (like Safe Catch or Wild Planet https://www.asweetpea).
Tuna is not only delicious and easily pairs with your favorite recipes, it fuels your body, too! 1. Is canned tuna fish good for you? Yes, canned tuna is a healthful food rich in protein and contains many vitamins and minerals such as B-Complex vitamins, Vitamins A and D as well as iron, selenium and phosphorus.
Is canned tuna safe to eat regularly? Yes. It is safe for everyone (including pregnant women) to consume canned tuna as part of their fish intake. Canned tuna generally has lower levels of mercury than tuna fillets because smaller tuna species are used and the tuna are generally younger when caught.
The healthiest canned fish are small, oily varieties like sardines, mackerel, anchovies, and herring (SMASH), packed with omega-3s, protein, vitamin D, calcium (especially with bones), and lower mercury, with anchovies and sardines often topping the list for overall nutrition and lower cost; salmon is also excellent but choose smaller species like canned sockeye or chum.
Albacore tuna is also higher in mercury than skipjack tuna. If you want to buy sustainably sourced tuna, look for the terms “pole-and-line-caught,” “troll-caught,” or “school-caught” on can labels.
Pre-cooked pasta in sauce is one of the unhealthiest canned foods. While they might be tasty meals, the reason they have that addictive flavour is due to high levels of sugar and salt. For example, a can of Heinz Alphaghetti contains 1,490 mg of sodium and 18 g of sugar.
Sirena tuna is considered good because of its premium quality, using pole-and-line caught yellowfin tuna, which results in a richer flavor, firm chunky texture, and lower mercury levels compared to other brands. Consumers praise its superior taste, often packed in quality oils or springwater, making it versatile for salads, sandwiches, and meals, despite being a pricier option.
If you're concerned about limiting the amount of mercury you consume, and if you've eaten no other fish during the week, Consumer Reports says up to 12 ounces a week of Bumble Bee Chunk Light, Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light, Safe Catch Wild Elite, and StarKist Chunk Light tunas are the safer choices among the products ...
You would have to eat around 25 tins (at 95g a tin) of it a week before you hit the maximum tolerable intake of mercury. For pregnant people (or people trying to get pregnant), the limit would be around 12 tins (at 95g a tin) a week. It is unlikely many consumers will reach these limits.
Some tuna cans that say do not drain because they don't add oil, water, fillers, preservatives, and GMO soy broth. Cans that say do not drain contain only tuna or sometimes salmon. They only have natural occurring fish oils and juices and those are rich in omega threes.
Oil vs Water
Tuna packed in water will contain fewer calories and less fat but also allows for the loss of omega 3 fatty acids to occur. Water-packed also dilutes the natural juices and flavors contained within the fish and can lead to a more rounded and less refined taste.
Omega 3s
These are the good fats that keep your heart happy and healthy. Tuna is brimming with two types of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, which have been linked to reduced inflammation, improved brain function, and a lowered risk of heart disease.
Tuna, salmon, sardines, mackerel, mussels, oysters: The healthiest types of tinned fish.
Top 10 Tunas
Buy skipjack and yellowfin tunas labeled pole-caught, pole-and-line, troll-caught, or FAD-free from the Atlantic or Pacific. Avoid all bluefin tuna, except if you confirm it's Pacific bluefin tuna from a yellow-rated source (scroll down for more information). Avoid tuna caught in the Indian Ocean.
Mercury Tested
We hand select and test every, single, tuna, to a mercury limit (10x) lower than the FDA action limit. No other brand in the world does this. That is why Safe Catch Elite and Ahi, Wild Yellowfin are the official tuna of the American Pregnancy Association.
Nothing Added, Nothing Drained
Have you ever wondered, “Why do I have to drain a can of tuna?” We did too, so that's why Safe Catch Ahi tuna never adds water or oil fillers. We take pride in carefully preparing the best tuna nature has to offer, for you.
Sirena tuna is an Australian brand, created in Melbourne in 1956 by Italian immigrant Carlo Valmorbida to bring Italian-style tuna to Australia, but the tuna itself is now sourced and canned in sustainable fisheries in places like Thailand and Indonesia to meet Australian standards.
Safe Catch is the ONLY brand mercury testing Every Tuna, Every Time. Lowest mercury of any brand, guaranteed. Always wild, sustainably caught. The best seafood nature has to offer.
The Rankings: Tuna in Oil
These foods include:
Cardiologists generally advise avoiding processed meats, sugary drinks and sweets, and foods high in trans fats and sodium, like most fried foods and salty snacks, because they raise bad cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation, significantly increasing heart disease risk. Focusing on whole foods and limiting these culprits is key for heart health.
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich (PB&J) adds about 33 minutes to your healthy lifespan per serving, according to a University of Michigan study that measured life expectancy impacts of over 5,850 foods using the Health Nutritional Index (HNI). This sandwich tops the list for adding time, with nuts and seeds also being highly beneficial (around 25 mins) and processed items like hot dogs subtracting time.
Which one should I choose?